How To Become A Third Degree Knight Of Columbus

What is the purpose of degrees in the Knights of Columbus?

To teach Catholic gentlemen to be truthful Catholics, loyal to the Holy Begetter, the Magisterium of the Church and to assist fellow Catholics in diverse situations, such as widows. Things that Knights of quondam would expect upon as an honour to fulfill.

The degrees taken emulate these facts, in their ceremonies (which the formalities are not publicly known then as to make the new recipients acquire the Gospel message in a very unique manner).

The Knights in their degrees learn clemency, unity, fraternity and patriotism!

Types of Membership

Knights

New candidates brainstorm their journeying to Knighthood by completing the First Degree ceremony where they learn the lesson of charity. Following the First Degree ceremony, a candidate is considered a Knight of Columbus and can participate in all quango activities. Starting time Caste members are encouraged to attain the Second and Third Degrees, which teach the lessons of unity and fraternity. Upon taking the Third Degree, a member receives full honors of Knighthood and is "Knighted."

Privileges of Third Caste membership include the ability to serve as a local quango officeholder, and access to country and Supreme Council business organization meetings. Get-go and 2d Caste members can attend the state and Supreme Quango meetings, just they are not immune in the business sessions.

Members who have been in the Knights for one year and have attained Tertiary Degree membership are eligible to join the Fourth Degree Knights.

4th Degree Knights

On February 22, 1900, the first 4th Caste exemplification or degree ceremony was held in New York City. The Fourth Degree imparts a lesson on the virtue of patriotism. The primary purpose of this degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism in members and the community at big and encourage active Catholic citizenship. Today there are some 300,000 Quaternary Degree Knights out of the total i.6 million member Knights of Columbus.

Local units, called assemblies, describe their members from Knights of Columbus councils. The qualifications for membership in the Quaternary Degree are: membership in the Knights for at to the lowest degree i year and existence a Third Degree Knight.

A Quaternary Degree Knight may become part of the assembly's colour corps. These members are recognized widely by their distinctive attire of tuxedo, feathered hat (hat), cape and sword. These members regularly take part in civic events such as parades and wreath-laying ceremonies, and at ecclesial functions at Cosmic churches. The various colored capes and chapeau feathers announce different officer positions within the Fourth Degree.

Wikipedia explains it as follows:

The order is dedicated to the principles (Degrees) of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. The first ritual handbook, printed in 1885, contained merely the first ii Degrees teaching unity and charity. The third Degree, espousing fraternity, was adopted in 1891.

The 4th Degree, which is dedicated to patriotism, was adopted in 1903. Members of the Fourth Degree join assemblies which are separate from ordinary councils. Assemblies may form colour guards, which are often the almost visible arm of the Knights, to attend of import borough and church building events.

A longstanding tradition is coming to an end on July 1 as the Knights of Columbus discard the ceremonial capes and plumed chapeaus of its Fourth Caste members.

Purpose of the Colour Corps

When knighthood was in flower, knights carried the sword to defend their God, their Church building, their country and their fellow human co-ordinate to the lawmaking of chivalry. Today, Sir Knights habiliment regalia and deport the sword to honour Christ and His apostles, peculiarly on religious and civic occasions specified in this manual. Hence, the primary purpose of the 4th Caste is to encourage active Catholic citizenship and foster the spirit of patriotism in members and the customs at big.

The Color Corps members exemplify all the principles of our Guild:

• Clemency - by the souvenir of their time and energies necessary to practice, perfect and perform the ceremonials and sword drill;

• Unity – by the united efforts of Sir Knights to practise and perfect a coordinated drill for the good of the Church and the Order;

• Fraternity – by expressing an "Esprit de Corps," sharing a common want for drill excellence and camaraderie; and

• Patriotism – by performing precision drill equally a salute to God and to country and visually exhibiting a love for both.

The public appearance of 4th Degree Knights as a Color Corps at religious and civic functions is an of import activity of each assembly. By these public demonstrations, their loyalty and patriotism bring credit to themselves and to the Knights of Columbus. - The Color Corps of the Patriotic Caste

Source: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/75604/what-is-the-purpose-of-degrees-in-the-knights-of-columbus

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